Method of making french seams



v. J. SIGODA 2,176,643

METHOD OF MAKING FRENCH SEAMS Oct. 17, 1939.

Filed Jan; 31, 1938 INVENTOR. V/croxa S/aooA BY M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STA'EEE anger-s METHOD OF MAKING FRENCH SEAMS Victor J. Sigoda, Brooklyn, N. Y assignor to Man-Sew Pinking Attachment Corp, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 31, 1938, Serial No. 187,848

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved method of making French seams and has for its general object and purpose to provide a method which may be expeditiously executed or carried out upon a conventional type of sewing machine without necessitating expensive additions to or mechanical alterations thereof.

In accordance with my new method, the twopieces of fabric are progressively moved over the surface of the machine bed or other horizontal support, and in such movement, edge portions of the fabric sections are first vertically positioned in contact with each other and stitched together. Secondly said connected edges are horizontally positioned, and a fold formed in each fabric section at one side thereof and f1- nally the fabric sections are connected with each other by a second line of stitching laterally spaced from said connected edges whereby the latter are retained between and embraced by said folds.

Preferably, in the initial stitching operation whereby the vertically disposed edges of the fabric sections are stitched together, the lower edges of said sections in spaced relation to the line of stitching are trimmed or cut off.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved method of making French seams and in the several steps thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have disclosed a 5 preferred embodiment of the invention and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the first step of the method whereby 40 the edge portions of the fabric sections are trimmed and stitched together,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the second and third steps of the method whereby the formation of the seam is completed, and,

45 Fig. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating the French seam as produced by my new method.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated only those mechanical parts which are necessary to a clear understanding of the manner in which the method may be carried out. It will therefore be understood that the two pieces or sections of fabric, indicated at 5, are intermittently and progressively moved over the hori- 55 zontal bed plate of a sewing machine or other suitable support, either by means of an automatic feeding mechanism or by hand.

The adjacent edge portions of the fabric sections are first vertically positioned as they pass between suitable guide folders, shown at 6, and 5 are securely connected with each other, at a point suitably spaced above their lower edges, by a single line of stitching 8 produced by the horizontally reciprocating needle indicated at 9. This stitching 8 may be of either the chain or L0. lock stitch type.

Following the stitching operation of needle VS,

a suitable form of trimmer ;or cutter, indicated at It, trims or cuts off the raw fabric edges at a point in properly spaced relation to the line of 15 stitching 8.

After this initial stitching and trimming operation, in the continued movement of the fabric sections, the said connected edges 1 are engaged by the guide ll which moves said edges from a 20 vertical to a horizontal position. This guide has the spaced parts l2 between which the edges 1 of the fabric sections move, said parts acting upon the respective fabric sections to form the horizontal folds Is at one side of the line of 25 stitching 8. The guide II and the parts l2 thereof cooperate with a complementary guide member l4 between which the two fabric sections move. The guide M has a part l5 projecting in the opposite direction to one of the parts l2 and 30 cooperating therewith to form a second horizontal fold I6 in one of the fabric sections extending in the opposite direction from the connected edges 7, with respect to the folds 53.

As the two sections of fabric pass rearwardly beyond the folders M and i4 and beneath the presser-foot H of the sewing machine, the folds l3 and iii are closely compressed upon and about the connected edges 1 of the fabric sections, the fold IS in one section directly contacting with the other fabric section beyond and closely adjacent to the edges 1. A vertically reciprocating needle l8, then secures the latter fabric section to the fold l6 by the line of stitching indicated at l9. Thus, in a single progressive movement of the fabric sections through the machine the seam is accurately and rapidly produced, with the stitched together fabric edges 1 lying between and closely embraced by the seam folds formed in the two fabric sections, which is characteristic of a French seam.

It will be seen from the foregoing that it is only necessary to properly mount or arrange the folders l l and I4, together with the horizontally reciprocating needlein relation to the presserfoot and vertically reciprocating needle [8 of the conventional sewing machine, in order to adapt such machine for the purpose of carrying out my new method. These changes or additions are comparatively simple and inexpensive. By means of my present invention, the quantity production of garments or other fabric articles provided with seams of this type, at appreciably lower cost, may be realized. I have herein disclosed an embodiment of my new method which is entirely practical for the purpose in view. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that the several steps thereof may also be executed by other forms of mechanical apparatus than that illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and insofar as the method of making the same is concerned no unnecessary limitations are to be implied in this respect, or as to the form and detail arrangement of the several parts of the complete seam. Accordingly, it is to be understood that I reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate modifications as may fairly be comprehended within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making a French seam which consists in progressively moving two fabric sections over a horizontal support, and, in such movement, first positioning edge portions of the fabric sections in vertical contacting relation and connecting the same by a line of stitching, then horizontally positioning said connected edge portions and forming a fold in each fabric section with said folds laterally spaced in the same direction from said line of stitching, simultaneously forming a second fold in one of said fabric sections laterally spaced from said line of stitching in the opposite direction with respect to said first named folds, and then connecting the latter fold to the other fabric section by a second line of stitching beyond said connected edges of the fabric sections.

2. The method of making a French seam which consisting in progressively moving two sections of fabric over a horizontal support and first, turning adjacent edge portions of said fabric sections downwardly into vertically contacting relation with each other and stitching the same together, then trimming off the connected edges beyond the line of stitching and thereafter moving said connected edges from a vertical to a horizontal position and forming a fold in each fabric section with said folds projecting laterally in the same direction from said line of stitching and simultaneously forming a second fold in one of the fabric sections extending from the first named fold in said section and projecting laterally in the opposite direction from said line of stitching, and finally applying a compressing pressure to said folds and connecting the bight portion of the last named fold tothe other fabric section by a second line of stitching adjacent to the trimmed edges of the first named folds of said fabric sections.

VICTOR, J. SIGODA. 

